4th of July
Happy American Independence Day! Today is a good day to pause and appreciate that we who live in America enjoy the benefits of a government which, despite its many and serious flaws, is pretty damned good by comparison to most other past and current states.
Independence Day is also a perfect opportunity to declare, proudly, that I am not a patriot. I love or loath nation-states in proportion to their virtues and vices. Patriotism is simply a modern incarnation of tribalism. Politicians use patriotism encourage citizens to support their state precisely when it undertakes those actions which least deserve our support.
For a more developed condemnation of patriotism (Only slightly longer! Worth the read!) I point you to the writing of Herbert Spencer, which remains poignant after more than a century.
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